Motor-vehicle.



A. LOOMIS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1912.

wmm. Patented 001;. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E [If I HHHI E f l'] 1mm m A. LOOMIS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 4, 1912.

1,15'Ffi7fi. Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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ALLEN LOOMIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CARCOMPANY,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Patented Oct. at, leis.

Application filed November 4, 1912. Serial No. 729,375.

troit, Wayne county, State of Michigan,v

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to motor vehicles, and particularly to the frame,the, driving axle, and connections.

The invention is illustrated in a motor vehicle having a rear drivingaxle upon which the frame is supported by springs so that there is arelative movement between the frame and axle. A forwardly extendingtorsion member has its front end supported from the frame so that theaxle can freely oscillate vertically and have a reasonable amount ofside sway, due to the elasticity of the supporting springs. In theconnection of the torsion member to the frame, provision is also madefor oscillation of the axle about the torsion member as a center, aswhen one only of the wheels falls into a hole or rut.

The torsion member is shown as of tubular form with the driving orpropeller shaft passing through it, and the universal joint of thepropeller shaft has its pivots substantially in line with the connectingmeans of the torsion member to the frame.

Heretofore there were two well known methods of connecting the front endof the torsion member to the frame, first, by means of a spherical jointsurrounding the universal joint, and second by t'runnions at either sideof the universal joint, the front end of the torsion member being forkedto connect with the trunnions. The first of these methods isobjectionable because of the necessarily large size of the sphericalparts, causing considerable relative movement of the contact surfaces ofthe spherical parts and consequent Wear and difficulties of lubrication;and the second method necessitates the trunnions being so far apart thatthey must be made exceptionally strong to with stand the side sway ofthe body and frame relative to the axle.

One of the objects of the present invention is to construct a torsionrod with a connection at its front end that will not have any of theobjections above outlined.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' duce a motor vehicle inwhich the torsion of and free from the universal joint of the propellershaft.

These and other objects of the invention are made clear in the followingdescription,

taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of thisspecification; and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear end of a motor vehicle, showing theforward end of the torsion rod and its connection to the frame insection; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1, withparts broken away; Fig. 3 is atransverse section substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged horizontal and verticalsections, respectively, of the torque tube front end connections shownin Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged horizontal and vertical sections,respectively, of another form of torsion rod front end connections; Fig.8 is a perspective view of the bracket used in the. form of the "deviceshown in Figs. 6 and 7; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a third formof torsion rod front end connection.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the vehicle frame comprisingside bars 11 and cross bars 12, 13 and 14, the latter bar forming asupport for the gear casing 15 and motor 15 The rear axle 16 and wheels17 support the frame through springs at either side of the frame, shownin the drawings as each comprising a lower semi-elliptic member 18 andan upper scroll spring 19,

these springs being connected at their rear end by links 20, and themember 18 being I connected at its forward end to the frame side bar 11,as by a link or shackle'21. Tn

a torque or torsion member or tube. present instance also this torsionmember 22 forms a housing for the propeller or drivpose, or through atorsion-member, as shown in the drawings in the form of a forwardlyextending tubular member 22. This tubular member in the present case isalso connected to one of the cross members of the frame so that it not.only takes the drive, but also resists the torsion of the driving axle.For this reason, it is frequently Icalled n the ing shaft 23, whichextends directly through to, and connects with, the differential gearsin the casing 24 of the driving axle 16.

The front end of the propeller shaft 23 connects with the driving shaft25 by a universal joint 26, the shaft 25 extending from the rear end ofthe gear box 15, and is of.

. course driven by the motor of the vehicle through suitable gears andclutch.

From the above description it will be seen that the axle 16 hasconsiderable freedom to move relative to the frame 10, due to the.

elastic connection formed by the spring members 18 and 19. The axle ofcourse oscillates in a substantially vertical plane with the universaljoint 26 as a center; it

oscillates somewhat with the longitudinal axis of the torsion tube 22 asa center, as when one of the wheels drops into a hole or runt and theother wheel perhaps is simultaneously raised by an obstruction in theroad, and it moves bodily sidewise relatlve to the .by the well lmownterm of side sway.'

frame, as when the car is taking a turn or the wheels are'following inwinding ruts in the road, this action being well described The firstabove mentioned movement of the axle in a substantially vertical planemay easily be taken care of by pivoting the for:

- ward end of the torsion tube on suitable construction that meets theserequirementsand which forms the subject matter of this invention willnow be described in detail.

The universal joint '26, hereinabove referred to as connecting the shaftand propeller shaft 23, is in the form of a pair of yoles 27 and 28connected together by a ring member'29'through pivots'30. .The yokes,

ring and pivots are arranged somewhat farther from the center of theshafts than ,is

usual, so that the forward .end 31 of the torsion tube 22 may extendinto, and in fact .be surrounded by, the universal joint, as-

shown clearly in Figs. Land 5. This end 31 of the torsion tube isprovided with horizontal trunnions 32, which, as will be seen from Fig.4, are. very close together, in fact being separated only by thethickness of the shaft 23 with slight clearance. These trunnions aresupported in the rentrant part 33 of a bracket 34, which is in the formof a cylindrical casing in the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thisbracket or casing is provided with a flange 35, to which is secured adisk 36 having an opening 37 for the passage of theshaft 25; and thisdisk is secured between a ring 38 and a cylindrical bracket 39 mountedon the cross bar 14 or gear box 15, as shown in Fig. 1. The disk 36 hasa slight movement between its securingmem- -bers so that the slightoscillations of the torsion tube 22 about its longitudinal axis maybeeasily taken care of. At the same time all of the driving energy of theaxle is transferred to the frame through this disk, and it is ofsufficiently large diameter and surface to easily take care of the workthus put upon it. The casing 34 is shown with plugged holes 40, madenecessary for the purpose of drilling the holes in the reentrant part 33for the trunnions 32.

It will be understood that the disk 36 extends inwardly toward the shaft23 for the purpose of forming a baflie to prevent oil or grease in thecasing 34 from being thrown by centrifugal force off of the universaljoint and into the joint between the outer edge of the disk 36 and theparts 38 and 39. Thus the oil isretained in the casing 34, so far as thelast mentioned joint is concerned. It will also be understood that thetrunnions 32 are substantially in line with the pivots of the universaljoint, so that these parts will move about substantially the samecenter.

The casing 34 may be provided with a flange 41, to which is secured aflexible sleeve 42, the other end of which is secured around the tube22, as at 43. This sleeve prevents oil escaping from this end of thecasing and also excludes dust and dirt therefrom.

It will be seen that by having the trunnions 32 so close together, theside sway of the frame relative to the axle 16 will be practicallynothing when it reaches these trunnions, and the elasticity of the partssuch as the tube 22 and the casing 34 is amply sufficient to take careof these strains. Of course the oscillation of the axle 16 in asubstantially vertical plane is taken care of by the-movement of thetube 22 relative to the bracket 34, these parts turning on the trunnions32.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the bracket 34 isitself secured to the cylindrical extension 39, and the reentrantportions 33 are of skeleton construction, the entire bracket beingsurrounded by its longitudinal axis is provided for by telescoping thetube, 'as shown clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, the forward end 31 surroundingthe tube 22.

It will be understood that in such construction the vehicle is eitherprovided with radius rods for transferring the drive of the rear axle tothe" frame, or the forward.

ends of the spring members 18 are directly pivoted to the frame for thesame purpose.

In Fig. 9, the bracket 34? has the reentrant portions formedwithspherical recesses 44:, between which recesses a spherical piece 45is adapted to be secured by caps 46 and bolts 47. This sphericalpiece'slides on the forward reinforced end 31*, giving the sametelescoping action that is secured by the construction shown in Figs. 6and 7. Trunnion pieces 32* may also be provided, if desired, in order tostill further strengthen this construction, but without the trunnionpieces this construction permits of a greater universal action betweenthe tube 22 and its bracket 34 than is secured in either of the otherconstructions.

Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is,

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with, a driving shaft, apropeller shaft and a universal joint connecting said shafts, of atorque member pivotally supported inside of the pivots of said universaljoint.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with, a driving shaft, apropeller shaft and a universal joint connecting said shafts, of atorque member pivotally supported with its pivots inside of, andsubstantially in line with, the pivots of said universal joint.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with, a driving shaft, apropeller shaft and a universal joint connecting said shafts, of atorque tube surrounding said propeller shaft and having its endextending into said universal joint, and a bracket also extending intosaid universal joint and trunnioned to said torque tube. k

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with, a driving shaft, apropeller shaft and a universal joint connecting said shaft, of

' a torque tubesurrounding said propeller shaft and having its endsupported on pivots inside of said universal joint;

'5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with, a driving shaft, apropeller shaft and a universal joint connecting said shafts and havingspaced trunnions, of a torque tube surrounding said propeller shaft, acasing for said universal joint having an inturned end, and a pivotedconnection between said torque tube and the inturned end of said casing.v

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination With the frame, the motor mountedthereon, the driving axle, and a propeller shaft connecting the motorwith the driving members of the axle and having a universal jointtherein, of. a torque member connecting the axle and the frame andconnected to the latter byhorizontal trunnions inside said universaljoin-t.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame, the motor mountedthereon,

* the driving axle, and a propeller shaft connecting the motor with thedriving members of the axle and having a universal joint, of a torquemember connected to the axle and extending into said universal joint butdisconnected therefrom, and a bracket swiveled on the vehicle frame andconnected to, and supporting, said torque member.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame, the driving axle,the springs,

and links connecting the forward ends of the springs with the frame, ofa torque member connected to the axle and extending to a point adjacentthe frame, a bracket supporting the torque member andpivotally connectedthereto, and a swivel joint conneotion between the bracket and theframe.

9. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame, the driving axle,the springs, and links connecting the forward ends of the springs withthe frame, of a non-telescoping torque member connected to the axle andextending to a point adjacent the frame, and a bracket pivotallysupporting the torque member and connected by a swivel joint with theframe. F

10. In a motor vehicle, the combinat on with the frame, the motormounted thereon,

the driving axle, and a propeller shaft connecting the motor with thedriving members of the axle and having a universal joint therein, of atelescoping torque member connecting the axle and the frame andconnected to the latter by a joint inside said universal oint. v

11. Ina motor vehicle, the combination with the frame, the motor mountedthereon, the driving axle, and a propeller shaft connecting the motorwith the driving membersof the axle and having a universal jointtherein, of a torque member connected to the axle and having pivots atits forward end inside said universal joint, and a bracket swiveled onthe frame and connected to the pivots of said torque member.

12. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame, the motormounted thereon, the driving axle, and a propeller shaft connecting themotor with the driving members of the axle and having a universal jointtherein, of a torque member connecting the axle and the frame andconnected to the latter by a joint inside said universal joint, and acasing mounted on the frame and housing both said joint and saidconnection.

13. In a motor vehicle, the combination withthe driving shaft,th'edriving axle, and means for driving the axle from said shaft including auniversal joint, of means for taking the torsion of the driving axleinclud- I 3 ing a joint inside said universal joint.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALLEN LOOMIS..

,Witnesses JOHN D. WILSON, ALFRED H. KNIGHT,

